Vacuum cleaner casing construction



Feb. 6, 1951 L. H. SNYDER 2,540,763

VACUUM CLEANER casmc cous'mucnon Filed Sept. 29, 1945 8 Sheets-Sheet 1EgQl g/OSQ.

571 212-2227? Leland H Snyder Feb. 6, 1951 L. H. SNYDER 2,540,763

VACUUM CLEANER CASING consmuc'rxon Filed Sept 29, 1945 a Sheets-Sheet 2Leland/i'rgyder Feb. 6, 1951 L. H. SNYDER vncuuu CLEANER casmcconsmuc'rxou 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 29, 1945 No B a jZ 7VEI'2Z27FI Le Zena Jnyder sZ/JW/ /WVW Feb. 6, 1951 L. H. SNYDER 2,540,763

VACUUM CLEANER CASING CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 29, 1945 8 Sheets-Sheet 4fi s loan.

[Yr E17 727.2 Lelandfifnyaer Feb. 6, 1951 L. H. SNYDER 2,540,763

VACUUM CLEANER CASING consmucnou a Shee t s-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 29, 1945fi'H Enfczr' Leland H Sn der Feb. 6, 1951 L. H. SNYDER VACUUM CLEANERCASING cons'mucnon 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Sept. 29, 1945 [WI E2722?!"Lgldnd H nyder Feb. 6, 1951 sNYDER 2,540,763

VACUUM CLEANER CASING CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 29, 1945 8 Sheets-Sheet 7ZZ IVE'JTZTUF Leland H Snyder ZQY M H22 Feb. 6, 1951 H. SNYDER 2,540.763

VACUUM CLEANER CASING CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 29, 1945 8 Sheets-Sheet 8Leland HJ'n /aer Z7 WW/yW Patented Feb. 6, 1951-- w VACUUM CLEANERCASING CONSTRUCTION Leland H. Snyder, Chicago, Ill., minor, by

mesne assignments, to, Knapp-Monarch Company, St. Louis, Mo., acorporation of Delaware Application September 29, 1945, Serial No.619,351

l This invention pertains to vacuum cleaners, and relates moreparticularly to a novel housing structure for a vacuum cleaner as wellas to a vacuum cleaner having a suction mechanism which may be operatedeither mechanically or electrically. According to the present invention,the housin for a vacuum sweeper is made up of upper and lower arcuatehalves connected somewhat in the manner of a walnut shell. Transverseregistering partition walls in the housing halves subdivide the spacewithin the housing or easing into a rear compartment adapted to receivemeans for driving a suction fan, a middle compartment for housing asuction fan, and a front compartment for receiving the neck of a suctionnozzle opening into the suction fan housing. The lower casin half isformed with a bottom aperture coinciding with said front compartment toafford entrance into said compartment for said suction nozzle neck. Anarcuate downwardly open cover member integral with the lower casing halfextends in front of and, wing-like, on both sides of the lower casingmember and serves to receive a suction nozzle made up of a rear partdefining the rear wall and neck of the suction nozzle together with afront part defining the front wall and the roof of the suction nozzle. Apair of front wheels are supported from the suction nozzle which alsoaccommodates a rotary brush.

The two casing halves are provided with means for accommodating eitherelectrical or mechanical means for driving the suction fan.

Itis therefore an important object of the pres ent invention to providea vacuum cleaner having a housing made up of two complementary arcuatehalves accommodating in separate compartments means for driving asuction fan, a suction fan and the neck of a suction nozzle, said lowercasing half being further provided with a downwardly open cover memberfor receiving said suction nozzle that in turn accommodates a rotarybrush and affords support for a pair of front wheels.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide avacuum'cleaner housing capable of accommodating either mechanical orelectrical means for driving a suction fan.

Other and further objects and features of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following description, accompanying drawingsand appended claims.

The drawings show, by way of an example of a vacuum cleaner according tothe present invention, a vacuum cleaner identical with that shown in mycopending applications Serial Nos.

6 Claims. (Cl. 15-342) 619,350 and 619,352 entitled. respectively, Ad-

Iii

justable Height Mechanism for Floor Cleaners? and Vacuum Cleaner withIlluminating Device," flied of even date herewith. The first mentionedapplication issued January 9, 1951 as: Patent No. 2,537,166. The secondmentioned application is now abandoned. The first mentioned applicationcontains claims drawn to the mechanism for varying the effective workingheight of the sweeper casing with respect to the floor, while the secondmentioned application contains claims drawn to a battery suppliedilluminating arrangement. Reference is made to said copendingapplications for features not disclosed or shown in the presentapplication.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary front elevation of a vacuum cleaner accordingto the present invention equipped with mechanical driving means for asuction fan;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation, with parts brokenaway, of the vacuum cleaner of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a greatly enlarged horizontal crosssectional view takenalong the line III-4D. of Figure l, with parts broken away and partsshown in plan view.

Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal cross-sectional view taken along theline IV-IV of Figure 3, with parts shown in elevation;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical transverse cross-sectional view takenalong the line V-V of Figure 3, with parts shown in elevation;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary transverse vertical cross-sectional view takenalong the line VIVI of Figure 3;

Figure "I is a detail sectional view taken along the line VII-VII ofFigure and showing a clutch member forming part of the driving means forthe suction fan of the vacuum cleaner of Figures 1 to 6 and 8;

Figure 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along the lineVIII-VIII of Figure 3, with parts broken away and parts shown inelevation;

Figure 9 is a bottom plan view of the lower casing half;

Figure 10 is a bottom ing half;

Figure 11 is a front elevational view of the rear suction nozzle part; c

Figure 12 is a front elevation of the front suction nozzle part;

Figure 13 is a horizontal cross-sectional view similar to Figure 3 butshowing a vacuum cleaner plan view of the top casequipped withelectrical driving means for a suction fan; and

Figure 14 is a side elevation, with parts broken away, of the suctioncleaner of Figure 13.

In Figures 1 to 6 and 8, the reference numeral i indicates generally avacuum cleaner according to the present invention equipped withmechanical driving means for the-suction fan. This vacuum cleanerincludes a body, housing or casing formed by an upper casing half 1 Iand a lower casing half l2 together with a cover member 93 integral withthe lower casing half l2 and extending in front and on the sides of thelatter to form lateral wings for the sweeper body; The vacuum cleaner Mlmay be manually pushed over a floor surface by means of a generallytubular handle i4 pivotally connected to the sweeper body'through a yokehaving arms i5. Parallel longitudinal slots at} through the roof of thecasing half ii admit the yoke arms it into the interior of the casingand permit swinging movement of the handle it. mlcra for the ends of theyoke arms it are provided in the form oi pins or stub-shafts (not shown)accommodated or journalled in slots ll extending upwardly from the lowerrim of the upper casing half 6 i near the front portion of the slots it(Figure 10).

A dust bag has its free end attached to the distal portion of the handleit, for example, by means of a spring and hook arrangement 28 (Figure1).

As best shown in Figures 9 and 10, the upper casing half i I as well asthe lower casing half i2 are of generally teardrop-shaped configurationand their rims are formed, respectively, with abuttting surfaces Ho andE201 capable of registering one with another. On each side of the lowercasing half i2, the abutting or mating surfaces are locally enlarged andthe wall of the casing corresponding thickened, being further pierced bythreaded vertical bores 25. The upper casing half H has its wallcorrespondingly enlarged and tapped from below by upwardly closedthreaded bores adapted to register with the bores 24, so that said twocasing halves ii and i2 may be rigidly connected by means of screws orbolts (not shown) threaded into the bores 25 from below and extendingupwardly into the bores 25.

The upper casing half I i is provided with a rear transverse partitionwall 21 and a forward transverse partition wall 28. The lower casinghalf i2 is provided with a rear partition wall 29 and a front partitionwall-3ll adapted to mate with the upper partitions 21 and 28 tosubdivide the interior of the casing into a rear compartment 3! forsuction fan driving means, a middle impeller space 32 for the suctionfan and a front compartment 33 adapted to receive the neck or a suctionnozzle.

The front compartment 33, unlike the rear compartment of. the impellerspace, is not enclosed on all sides, for the bottom of the lower casinghalf l2 extends only up to the partition 3%. Forwardly of the partitionwall an aperture 35 co-extensive with the front compartment 33 leavesthe same open with respect to the space enconr passed by the cover I3.Further, the curved front wall of the lower casing half, ahead of thepartition 30, extends downwardly only to the roof of said cover so as toleave the space therein un obstructed.

The front partition walls 38 and 30 have their free rims each formedwith an arcuate recess (as at Zita and tila respectively), and theserecesses register to define a circular entrance to the impeller space32. On one side of the impeller spacev members lib and I2! are formedwith outer grooves lie and i2c whose ends register to form acircumferential groove around the outside of the exit duct, so that thelower end of the dust bag 20 can be tied or otherwise attached about theend of the exit duct.

A plate 38 is amxed to or integral with the partition 28 in frontthereof and has a lower rim configured similarly to the lower rim of thepartition 28 but extending a short distance therebelow. Thus, the plate38 is formed with a semicircular recess 38a concentric with the recess28a. The plate 38 terminates laterally a short distance past each sideof the recess 28a.

As shown in Figures 3, 4 and 8, a suction nozzle extends Within thefront compartment 33 and the cover 53 and is formed by a rear part 40and a front part M. This suction nozzle may be generally described asincluding a central neck Mia and a nozzle proper extending transverselyof the sweeper within the cover 63 with its lower rim on the level ofthe casing bottom. The nozzle is generally bent downwardly ahead of theneck and expanded laterally so that the opening of the nozzle lies in ahorizontal plane and extends over the greater part but not the wholewidth of the sweeper. The exact form and the arrangement of the twonozzle parts M and 4 i' are disclosed hereinbelow, as is also the mannerin which the suction nozzle provides communication between the impellerhousing 32 and the space encompassed by the cover 53.

The circular aperture formed by the recesses 28a and 30a aiiordscommunication between the impeller space 32 and the front compartment 33in the sweeper housing. Communication between the front compartment 33and the space the cover member 83 is provided by the aperture 35. Theabove disclosed suction nozzle serves to regulate the flow of air fromthe open bottom of the cover member l3 up through the aperture 35,through the front compartment 33 and through the aperture defined by therecesses 28a and 38:: into the impeller space 32. As best shown inFigure 11, the rear part 40 of the suction nozzle includes a constrictedmiddle neck portion Illa tapering rearwardly to define a circularorifice 40b adapted to register with the entrance aperture into theimpeller space 32 defined by the recesses 28a and 30a. The upper rearhalf of the neck a is formed with an upstanding terminal lip or flange400 that hooks into the rabbet-like groove formed by the lower end ofthe partition wall 28 and that part of the plate 38 projectingtherebelow. The lower part of the neck 40a around the aperture dilb isthickened, as at 40d, and formed with a rearwardly directed lip #08. Thelip 40c overlies the upper rim of the recess 30a, while the thickenedportion 40d presents an extended surface abutting against the margin ofthe partition wall 38 around the aperture 30a.

As shown in Figure 4, the roof of the rear suction nozzle part 40 isbent downwardly ahead of the aperture formed by the recesses 28a and30a,

and, as shown in Figure 11, this roof is also flared laterally andslopes downwardly from the neck 40a so as to present in front elevationa generally dome-shaped appearance. The roof terminam forwardly in agenerally arcuate edge formed with an extended vertical abutting surface460. As shown in Figures 3 and 8, the rear wall 46 of the rear nozzlepart 40 is flared laterally and downwardly from the thickened lips 40dso that its lower rim extends in a straight line transversely of thesweeper within the cover l3 and the level of the bottom of the lowercasing half I2 and a short distance behind the abutting surface 40a. Thelateral end portions of the rear wall 40 extend vertically and mergewith the very gently sloping narrow lateral end portions of the roof ofthe part 40, while the middle of the rear wall 40 curves upwardly andrearwardly to merge with the thickened lips 40d and with the wider,domed center of the roof.

The front nozzle part 4| extends ahead of the rear part 40 as a covertherefor with its lower rim extending in a straight line in front of thelower rim of the rear nozzle part 46. The middle upper portion Ala isarched or bulged forwardly and gradually merges with the outer upperportions Mb that extend horizontally. The upper rear rim is formed withan extended arcuate abutting surface Me adapted to lie against theabutting surface 609 of the rear nozzle part 46. The lowest front partMd extends vertically in a straight line in abutment against the insidelower margin of the front of the cover l3.

Apertured ears or lobes 46h project upwardly from the front of the rearnozzle part at each side of the neck 40a, and correspondingly locatedapertured ears 4|e project upwardly from the rear of the front nozzlepart 4|. Screws 42 threaded into the ear apertures hold the two nozzleparts together.

Apertured lugs 4| ,f are formed on top of each horizontal part 4|b.Registering lugs 43 tapped from below depend from the inside of thecover l3. Screws (not shown) threaded into the lugs 4| from the insideof the suction nozzle extend into the threaded bores of the lugs 43 tohold the suction nozzle in place within the cover l3.

Plates 50 integral with the rear nozzle part 40 close off the lateralends of the suction nozzle and extend behind the latter. The plates 50are formed at their forward ends with downwardly opening slots 56a thatfreely accommodate a rotary brush shaft 5| carrying brushes 52 arrangedin spiral lines about the brush shaft 5|. As shown in Figures 4 and 8,the brushes 52 are of such a length as to be bent slightly whencontacting the curved inside 4| g of the front nozzle part 4|d oncounterclockwise rotation of the brush shaft 5|. As a result, when thebrushes are rotated clear of the curved inside 4| 9 of the front nozzlepart Md, the brushes will tend to throw off particles of dust and lintadhering thereto.

The end plates 50 further carry above the slot 50a outstanding lugs 53from which are pivotally suspended plates 54 whose rear sides areinwardly and downwardly slotted. as at 54a, to receive the constrictedends 5|a of the brush shaft 5|. More particularly, the plates 54 aresuspended from the outer terminal surfaces of the lugs 53 by means ofscrews 55, and the ends of the screws 55 as well as the plates 54 arespaced from the outer terminal surfaces of the lugs 53 by torsionsprings 56 having upper longer arms 56a whose ends lie against the frontwall of the lower casing I2 and whose lower ends 56b abut againstinwardly projecting spurs 54b on the plate 54 at about the level of thebottom of the slots 54a. The torsion spring 56 thus urges the pivotable6 plate 64 backward so that serrated surfaces Ilb on the rotary shaft 6|are urged into frictional engagement with front wheels 60 for drivingthe rotary shaft 5|. Inside the plates 54 the rotary shaft 6| is formedwith shoulders 5h: abutting against the plates 54 for preventinglengthwise displacement of the shaft. The front wheels 60 are freelyrotatable on a shaft 6| extending transversely of the sweeper behind thesuction nozzle through slots 50b in the plate 60 that permit only upwardand downward movement of the shaft with respect to the sweeper body.Washers 62 and cotter pins 63 at the ends of the shaft 6| outside thewheels 66 serve to keep these wheels on the shaft 6|. Above the slots50b a pin 65 is aflixed in each end plate 56 so as to project laterallyon both sides: of each plate 56. On the inside of each plate 60 the freeends of a tension spring 66 are hooked around the shaft 6| and theinside end of the pin 65, so as to bias the shaft 6| upwardly as far aspermitted by the slot 561).

The front wheels 60 are kept in spaced relationship to the outside ofthe plate 56 by washers 61 affixed to the shaft 6|. Between each washer61 and each plate so a cam member I0 is rigidly attached to the shaft 6|which thus acts as a rock shaft to synchronize movements of the two cammembers 76. The members 16 are generally of V-shape, and the crotch ofsaid V is formed with a camming surface adapted to contact that part ofthe pin 65 outside the plate 50 to depress or elevate the shaft 6| withrespect to the sweeper body. As shown in Figure 2, the forward end ofthe crotch of the cam member 10 is formed with a recess Illa adapted toreceive and hold the shaft 6| at a certain distance from the pin 65.Adjacent the other and rear leg of the V-shaped member 10, the latter isformed with another recess 10!) adapted to receive and hold the shaft 6|at a smaller distance from the pin 65, as shown in Figure 2. Betweenthese two recesses, the crotch of the V is provided with a curvedsurface Hlc permitting swinging movement of the member 10 so as to lodgethe pin 65 in either of the recesses Illa and 10b. One of the cam mem--bers 16 is provided with a rearwardly directed arm 1| forming acontinuation of the rear leg of the V-shaped member movable in a slot 12in the rear of the lower casing member I3'for manual actuation of thecam member 10.

It will be apparent that movement of the arm 1| and thereby of the twomembers III (through the agency of the shaft 6| acting as a rockingshaft) will cause a camming or wedging action of the surfaces Illa, 10band 10c functioning to space the shaft 6| at a greater or smallerdistance from the pin 65, thus elevating or depressing the front wheels(which are freely rotatable about the shaft 6|) with respect to thesweeper body. The rotary brush shaft being spaced with respect to thesweeper body, it is evident that the height of the brush shaft above thesurface being swept can be regulated at will for more or less severebrush action and for correlation with the height of the nap of any rugbeing cleaned.

Besides the suction nozzle, the front wheels and the rotary brush, thefront part of the sweeper body also carries illuminating means. Anelectric bulb 15 is socketed on the suction nozzle neck 40a, beingenergized by batteries 16 suspended within the cover I3 behind andinside the front wheels. A switch 11 is provided at the distal end ofthe handle I 4, which latter is hollow and accommodates a cord 18forming m of the circuit including the bulb 16. the 1mby means of ascrew 80. to the lower casing half so as to close the resulting slot.The shield 19 is transversely slotted, as at 19a. to allow penetrationof the light from the bulb 15.

The rear compartment 3| holds driving mechanism for a suction fan. Aworm shaft 90 having a double threaded worm 90a extends lengthwise ofthe sweeper body within the compartment 9| for driving a suction fan 9|within the impeller housing 32. The partition 21 is apertured, as at21a, and the front end of the shaft 90 extends into the impeller housing92 for receiving the hub 9Ib of the fan which is held thereon by meansof a set screw 92. The suction fan 9| further includes a circular plate9|b integral with the hub 9Ia and carrying impeller blades 9Ic.

The worm shaft 90 is journaled in combined radial and thrust bearings94. The two bearings are removably held by screws 96 on lugs 95 formedon the inside of the lower casing half I2. As' shown in Figure 4, thebearings 94 include inner ball bearings 94a of smaller diameter than themain portion of the shaft 90 and facing the worm 90a and outer slidingbearings 94b of smaller inner diameter. The shaft 90 is constricted, asat 90b, to fit the ball bearings, and still more constricted, as at 90c,to fit the sliding surface bearings, and formed with shoulders betweenthe constrictions that coact with the bearings to prevent axial shaftdisplacement.

The worm shaft 90 is driven from a rear wheel- 98 (having an outerserrated rubber thread) operating through a slot 99 in the bottom casinghalf I2 and carried by a shaft I09 extending transversely through therear compartment 3|. The wheel 98 may be rigidly affixed to the shaft Iby means of a pin IN. The ends of the shaft I00 are journaled inbearings I02 and I03, respectively, formed integrally with the lowercasing half I2. These bearings I02 and I03 open to the outside of thelower ca'sing half I2, and are protected by removable'caps I02a andI03a.

A worm gear I05 engaging the worm 98 from below is loosely mounted on acollar I06 on the shaft I00 with its inner margin abutting against aterminal flange I06 on said collar I06 which in turn abuts against thehub of the wheel 96. The collar I06 extends over the shaft I00 away fromthe wheel 98 beyond the worm gear I05. A short distance past the wormgear I05 the collar I06 is constricted, as at I06b, and further away,the collar terminates on a radial flange I050, removably affixed to theshaft I00 by means of a pin I01. The worm gear I05 is driven from thecollar I06 by means of a one-way roller clutch comprising an annularmember I09 (Figures 5 and 7) whose inner margin is interlocked with therestricted collar portion I06c (see Figure '7) and whose periphery isrecessed to provide a plurality of inwardly sloping tracks I09adistributed about said periphery. A roller H0 is mounted in each recessand is adapted, when the member I09 is rotated forwardly, to moveoutwardly in saidrecess and'to engage an axial flange IIa on an annularmember III aflixed to the worm gear I05, as by means of headed pins II2.An annular shield II9 having an axial flange II3a peened over the flangeIIIa extends inwardly therefrom into closely spaced relationship withthe collar I06 to protect the clutch against the entry of dirt and thelike.

Due to the provision of the one-way clutch. rotation of the shaft 90 andthe fan 9| will be effected by actuation of the traction wheel We onlywhen the sweeper is moved forwardly.

It will be noted that after removal of the upper casing half- II, thewhole driving mechanism for the suction fan can be removed from thesweeper. The bearings 94 are disengaged from the supports 95 by removalof the screws 96. The bearing caps |02a and I03a are removed, and theshaft I00 is disengaged from the collar I06 and from the hub of thewheel 95 by removal of the pins I01 and I0| and pulled out from thehousing. The shaft 90 may then be lifted out of the casing, along withthe wheel 98, the worm gear I05, the collar I06 and the clutch I09, III,II3.

When the above described mechanical driving means for the suction fanhave been removed, the same may be replaced by electrical driving means,as illustrated in Figures 13 and 14. As there shown, an electrical motorIII may be inserted into the rear compartment 3|. Stub-shafts I|6inserted into apertures provided in the sides of the motor are journaledin the bearings I02 and I03. A caster wheel II1 depending from thebottom of the motor projects through the slot 99 to support the rear ofthe sweeper. A shaft II8 projects forwardly from the motor through theaperture 21a into the impeller housing 32 and has the hub 9Ia of theimpeller affixed thereto by means of the set screw 92. The shaft H8 isjournaled in a bearing II9 held in place on the block 95 by means of ascrew I20. The lower casing half I2 is suitably apertured, as atiI2I, toadmit a cord- I22 carrying electric current to the motor. The uppercasing half I I is suitably apertured, as at I23, to accommodate aprojecting brush housing 5!: on the motor.

The motor 5 may easily be removed from the compartment 3| (after removalof the upper casing half II) by removal of the journal caps I02a andI03a, pulling out the stub shafts 6 through the open journals I02 andI09, removal of the screw I20 so as to loosen the bearing II9 from thebox 95 and lifting out the motor II5 along with the shaft II8.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a vacuum sweeper having ahousing adapted to receive both mechanical and electrical driving meansand also characterized by a novel and improved structure adapting thesame to receive a suction nozzle as well as to shield illuminating meansdisposed therein. Many details of construction may be varied within awide range without departing from the principles of this invention, andit is therefore not my purpose to limit the patent granted on thisinvention otherwise than necessitated by the scope of the appendedclaims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A sweeper housing comprising upper and lower halves subdivided byregistering partitions into a rear compartment for accommodating drivingmeans for a suction fan, a middle compartment for housing a suction fan,and a forward compartment for receiving the neck of a suction nozzle, acover integral with the lower housing half and extending in front ofand, as wings, on both sides thereof, the space encompassed by saidcover being unobstructed by said 75 housing and communicating with saidfront compartment through an aperture in the lower casing half largeenough to accommodate the neck and middle portion of a suction nozzle,the partition between the forward compartment and the middle compartmentbeing formed with an aperture for receiving the terminal portion of asuction nozzle neck and having in front of said aperture arabbet-forming projection along the upper edge of said aperture. asuction nozzle extending transversely of said sweeper within said coverand having a neck extending up into said front compartment intocommunication with the impeller housing through said aperture and havinga terminal portion provided with an upstand ng flan e adapted to hookinto said rabbet on-said partition wall, said suction nozzle ex--tending within said cover transversely of said sweeper and being rigidlyafiixed to the inside of the roof of said cover. means for supporting arotary brush within said suct on nozzle, means for supporting frontwheels from said suction nozzle. and means for supporting driving meansfor said suction fan in said rear compartment.

2. A sweeper housing comprising upper and lower halves subdivided byregister ng partitions into a rear compartment for accommodating drivingmeans for a suction fan, a middle compartment for housing a suction fan,and a forward compartment for receiving the neck of a suction nozzle. acover integral with the lower housing half and extending in front ofand, as Wings, on both sides thereof. the space encompassed bysaid coverbeing unobstructed by said hou ing and communicatin with said frontcompartment through an aperture in the lower casing half large enough toaccommodate the neck and middle portion of the suction nozzle, asuctionnozzle made up of a rear part forming a 1 neck and a front partforming jointly with said rear part a suction nozzle proper extendingtransversely of said sweeper within said cover as well as a taperingduct communicating with said suction nozzle neck, said neck and ductextending up into said front compartment into communication with theimpeller housing through an aperture in the forward partition, meansdefining a rabbet groove in front of the upper edge of said lastmentioned aperture. an upstanding terminal flange on said suction nozzleneck hooked into said rabbeted groove, means for rigidly connecting thelateral ends of said suction nozzle with the in ide of the roof of saidcover, means rigidly connecting said two suction nozzle parts, andplates closing the end of said suction nozzle and means for suspendingfront wheels from said plate.

3. A sweeper housing comprising upper and lower halves subdivided byregistering partitions into a rear compartment for accommodating drivingmeans for a suction fan, a middle compartment for housing a suction fan,and a forward compartment for receiving the neck of a suction nozzle, acover integral with the lower housing half and extending in front ofand, as wings, on both sides thereof, the space encompassed by saidcover being unobstructed by said housing and communicating with saidfront compartment through an aperture in the lower casing half largeenough to accommodate the neck and middle portion of the suction nozzle,a suction nozzle extending transversely of said sweeper within saidcover and having a neck extending up into said front compartment intocommunication with the impeller housing through an aperture in theforward partition. said aperture having a rabbeted groove in its upperedge and said suction nozzle neck having an upstanding terminalflangehooked into said rabbeted groove, means rigidly connecting theends of said suction nozzle to the inside of the roof of said cover,said suction nozzle flaring from said neck and being bent forwardly sothat its lower edge defines a rectangular opening large enough toaccommodate a rotary brush and extending within said cover at the levelof the lower edge thereof, said suction nozzle being made up of a frontpart and a rear part rigidly connected to said front part, the rear partincluding plates closing the lateral ends of the suction nozzle andadapted to support front wheels.

4. A vacuum cleaner comprising a housing subdivided by a. partition intoa forward and a rear compartment, a suction fan disposed in said forwardcompartment, driving means dis osed in said rear compartment, a shaftoperatively connected between said driving means and said suction fanand extending lengthwise of said housing from said rear compartment intosaid forward compartment, a pair of iournals formed in the walls of saidhousing. transversely and oppositely disposed with respect to said rearcompartinent, the base of said rear com artment having an aperturetherethrough, said driving means having transverse y projecting shaftportions respectivelv engageable in said journals to position saiddriving means in said rear compartment, said driving means also having afloor engaging wheel disposed substantially centrally in said housingand projecting downwardly through said aperture to support the rear endof said housing.

5. A vacuum cleaner comprising a housing having upper and lower halvessubdivided by registering partitions into a forward and a rearcompartment, a suction fan dis osed in said forward compartment, drivingmeans disposed in said rear compartment, a shaft operatively connectedbetween said driving means and said suction fan and extending lengthwiseof said housing from said rear compartment into said forwardcompartment, bearing means for said shaft removably affixed to saidpartition in the lower housing half, a pair of open ended journalsformed in the walls of said lower housing half,

transversely and oppositely dis osed with re spect to said rearcompartment, the base of said rear compartment having an aperturetherethrough, said driving means having transversely projecting shaftportions axial y insertable respectively in said journals to positionsaid driving means in said rear compartment, and said driving means alsohaving a floor engaging wheel disposed substantially centrally in saidhousing and projecting downwardly through said aperture to support therear end of said housing, whereby said driving means may be convenientlydisassembled from said housing upon removal of said upper housing half.

6. A sweeper housing comprising upper and lower halves subdivided byregistering partitions into a rear compartment, a middle compartment anda forward compartment for receiving the neck of a suction nozzle, acover integral with the lower housing half and extending in front ofand, as wings, on both sides thereof, the space encompassed by saidcover being unobstructed by said housing and communicating with saidforward compartment through an aperture in the lower casing halt largeenough to accommodate the neck and the middle portion of the suctionnozzle, the partition between the forward compartment and the middlecompartment being formed with an aperture for receiving the terminalportion of the suction nozzle neck, and a suction nozzle extendingtransversely of said sweeper within said cover with its said neckextending up into said forward compartment into communication with saidmiddle compartment through said aperture, said suction nozzle extendingwithin said cover transversely of said sweeper and being rigidly amxedto the inside of the roof of said cover.

LELAND H. SNYDER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

12 1117mm sums PATENTS Number Number 16 4,001

Name Date Daddio July 12. 1927 Adams Sept. 10, 1929 Townsend Apr. 18,1933 Frantz Jan. 14, 1936 McCabe Nov. 16. 1937 Carlson Oct. 14, 1941Lang -L-.. Nov. 3, 1942 Radke Sept. 28,1943 Snyder Aug. 8, 1944 FOREIGNPATENTS Country Date Great Britain 1913i

